difference between avoid and prevent

[silviasabater_2000]

Hi there,

I cannot understand the difference between avoid and prevent. Could anyone help me?

"He tried to avoid him to commit suicide": wy is this sentence not correct and "He tried to prevent him from commiting suicide" is correct?

Thanks!!

[Anglika]

I avoided the bollard and prevented an accident.

By avoiding something, you take an action to "go around" the problem.

Preventing something means actively interfering to stop something happening.